The daily herald. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1886-1887, 1887-02-11
cINcHINc SAILORS.
Hawaiian Consul McKinleys Taxes
Upon Sailors.

The sailors of the Hawaiian steamer
Australia have grievance against
Consul Mckinley in the matter of the
fees that he assesses them for shipping
under the Hawaiian flag and under
Hawaiian laws.
1t appears that Mckinley used to
charge the Oceanic Company so cents
for shipping each member Of the
crews of the Hawaiian steamers. On
their return to port he levied ST. from
each man for discharging him and IS
cents month for hospital money. As
the crew numbers about eighty-fve
men it will be seen that Mckinley had
rather a fat thing, collecting nearly
$3.50 for each trip of the steamer,
which lasted about three weeks. AS
there were two Hawaiian steamers
then running to Honolulu and each
made at the rate of thirteen trips
year, McKinley's perquisites from this
source alone amounted to nearly
$4,000 per annum, for most of which
the sailors were cinched.
But six months ago complaints we're
made to John d. Spreckels about these
heavy taxes, which amounted almost
toa months pay for every sailor I'M
der the Hawaiian colors. The mon
strosity of the charge was apparent,
and Mr.. Spreckels made Mckinley re-
duce his fees for discharging the crew
to so cents, instead Of 81. Each man
now pays IS cents for his round trip to
Honolulu, and the Spreckels have to
pay 50 cents for each man. But on
the long voyage to Sydney Mckinley
still leves an assessment Of ST. from
each, and 50 or rs cents for hospital
money, according as the steamer has
been away for two or three months. 1t
should be mentioned that one-half of
all these fees go into the Consular
pocket--hence the desire for such
heavy assessments-the other half GO
ing to the credit of the Hawaiian Gov
ernment
On the last voyage Of the Australia,
sailor named Knop burst an aneur-
ism and died. He was sick before his
arrival in Honolulu, SO Captain Houd-
lette endeavored TO get him into the
hospital there, but he was informed
that the institution was privately en-
dowed and was only for the use Of
native Kanakas, unless man paid a
special charge for his admission. One
sailor, interviewed by ID. x. reporter,
said he was taken sick in San Francisco
about six months ago and applied to
Mckinley to send him to the hospital
here "But the old Kanaka,' said the
salt, told me to get out of his office
and get sick In Honolulu, where l
could be taken care OF and sent to the
hospital there. He said he could do
nothing here, and that we paid the
hospital fees so that we should be
taken care of in Honolulu. From the
case Of poor Knop you will see how we
are taken care of there. We don't
see why we should pay hospital fees
for nothing, as Coal Yard Mac won't
help Us. You know that's his name on
the city front, where he is well known
from the time he kept coal yard here.
Any one who can get ahead of Coal
Yard Mac has to get up pretty early, l
tell you"
1t seems that the sailors remarks
are true, and that the Hawaiian Con
) SUBS charges are higher than those OF
any other foreign representative. He
now makes $I.25 on each sailor on his
round trip to Honolulu, 50 cents OF
which is paid by the Spreckels, who
acknowledge the high charges and
have done their best to get them re-
duced, succeeding to the extent of 50
cents in the case of each sailor, Nc
Kinley asserts that his charges are ac-
cording TO law, but it is shrewdly sus-
pected that he made the law himself.
He reduced the fees before when Mr..
Spreckels demanded it without any
special act Of the Hawaiian Legisla-
ture, and the chances are that he will
have to reduce them again. The whole
thing is an outrage and shows the folly
Of putting greedy man in charge Of
an Office where his income is derived
from fees. IS r. DaiLy Rep0tt
Try Marinelli Cider. 1t is absolutely pure
Maclarane & Co., agents